~Hunger Games~

Chapter 13

Katniss Pov

So I guess the games are the day after tomorrow. Peetas mistake didn't need to affect the rest of us. And I know he was under a lot of stress but to go out and kill yourself over... Well... I guess I can't just say nothing. He was jealous.

Today Cato and I are training together. I need the extra help. It would give me, not only a strength boost but a confidence boost.

It's been a couple hours of training and Cato and I are about to switch stations when I see President Snow walk in.

I walk over trying not to show my confusion.

"Hello Sir." I say.

"Good afternoon Katniss. I have decided, in exchange for an extra day of training, I have retrieved another partner for you." He explains

"What? Wait!! You didn't include that part yesterday!" I say

There was a boxed group of men behind Snow.

"Come out Katniss's new partner."

The men move and my eyes start tearing up as my sister Prim walks out from behind them.

Then my mother.

Then my best friend. Gale.

"Gale! Mother! Prim!!" I say running over to them.

"There is an advantage for your family Katniss. While Gale will be joining you in the games your mother and sister get to stay in your suite. With the same treatment as you got for the last couple of days."

"What! That's great and awful!" I say.

"Katniss!" Prim yells, "this will be good for us! Please!"

"I- I-" I let out a big sigh, "alright!"

"Katnip! We get to e in the games together." Gale says

I see Gale lean to the side and glare at someone behind me. Cato. Right I totally forgot Cato was there.

"Who's the butch?" Gale asks.

"Gale! I'll explain and introduce you to him later." I say

"Anyways," says Snow, "You have today and only today to train Gale. Have a happy hunger games." He says while walking away with my mother, prim, and the men in a box shape around them.

Cato pushes me behind him and grabs Gales hand, "Hello! My name is Cato!" He exclaims.

"Hi.. I'm Gale. Katnips best friend." He explains

"Katnip? Haha! Is that your nickname Katniss? It's so funny."

Gale looks pissed enough there is almost smoke coming out of his ears.

"Yeah. And I made it up." Gale pushes Cato's chest.

"Gale." I say giving him a stern look, "Please."

"Yeah and I'm Katniss's protector." Says Cato pushing Gale back.

"Guys c'mon. Not today!" I say

"Fine," Gale says, "I'll wait till the games."

"No! No one is killing anyone!" I say "and if if either of you do, I will never talk to you again and hate you forever. Plus, you both wouldn't do such a thing if it would hurt me. Now lets get to training." I tell them both.

"Fine." Gale says.

"Fine." Cato says.

So I start leading Gale around the training arena and he is amazing by my improvement in everything.

"Wow Katnip! You really have gotten better since the last time I saw you!"

"Haha Gale that was only last week!" Pushing him in the shoulder.

At the wrong moment and the wrong time Cato comes up and says something he will regret.

"Hey Katnip! Come train with me!" He says trying to get on Gales nerves. And let me tell you, it worked.

"Don't call her that." Gale says with anger in his voice.

"Why? You call her that!"

Right then the bell went letting us know training was over.

Thank god for that too.

So we all get up to my suite and Cato decides to join us. And I let him because he seems like he doesn't feel comfortable with me alone with Gale, like something bad is going to happen.

We gather around the dinner table and Mother and Prim show up with beautiful gowns on that Cinna picked out for them.

When everyone is sitting Cinna calls me over to talk to him. Alone.

"Hello Katniss!" He says

"Hi Cinna!" I reply with the same enthusiasm.

"I was just going to see how you were doing. I mean. Since you know Peeta happened." He explains.

"It's fine Cinna. I don't like talking about it." I say

"I know. But at some point you will come across Peeta again in the arena. You will know when and why. He will be there for either a bad or good reason. By the way, he won't be his normal self. I promise you that." He says

I give him a confused nod and give him the signal that its time to eat.

We all finish dinner then gather in the living room to hear our overall scores for our training progress.

Cato got a 10, from today Gale got a 9, and I got an 11.

The speaker on the Television accidentally said Peetas name. He went on to explain how he died and why the games were postponed for the people who didn't Already know.

By that time I was ready to go to bed and regain my strength for tomorrow.